Physical Works

There are a lot of changes happening across the Cathedral site, but at the end of it all, the Cathedral will have a water-tight (and safe) roof to the Nave, improved landscaping and accessibility, new interpretation, new visitor facilities and community spaces. Plus the fabric of this beautiful building will be restored and in a better condition for all to enjoy for many more years to come.

August 2018

The stonemasons have completed work on the south west tower pinnacles and are finishing up the new parapet.

They are also continuing the cleaning of the Nave aisles and flying buttresses, and the scaffolders have erected temporary roofs over the aisles to protect the area from the elements.

On the north west tower, Dolmens are continuing with timber repairs to the roof, before it gets re-leaded.

In landscaping, phase 1 is almost ready for laying, and Buxtons have begun excavating phase 2. This part of the landscaping will reinstate the flint wall in front of the Lodge that was on the original plans but never built.

July 2018

The stonemasons are continuing work on the Nave aisles, cleaning, re-pointing and shelter coating the pinnacles and flying buttresses.

On the West Towers, the stonemasons have rebuilt the parapet of the south tower, while lead and timber replacement is carried out on the north tower

In the Welcome Centre, the steel framework of the Welcome Centre, Viewing Gallery and Community Studio began being erected.

In landscaping, the excavations of phase 1 continued, delayed by the archaeologists uncovering unexpected walls from previous structures!

Stonemasons cleaning the stone on the Nave aisles

June 2018

The last of the temporary roof was removed from the main part of the Nave, revealing the new lead work so far. Following this, the scaffolding will be changed and temporary roofs created over the aisles to enable lead, wood and stone repairs to be carried out.

Coniston returned to site to begin stripping the lead on the roofs of the West Towers.

Stone conservation on the North and South West Towers is progressing and further levels of scaffolding are being removed, slowly unveiling the cleaned stone.

The stonemasons are also starting work on the Nave aisles, cleaning the pinnacles and flying buttresses ahead of conservation and repairs.

In the Welcome Centre, the temporary works to hold up the Cathedral Gate Hotel have been carried out and soon the final concrete slabs can be laid.

Stone conservation on the South West Towers is progressing and further levels of scaffolding are being removed, slowly unveiling the cleaned stone.

In the Welcome Centre the archaeologists continue excavating the basement and staircase, while Buxtons prepare for temporary works to be carried out to support the nearby building.

The first of eight new gargoyles to be added to the building

In landscaping, excavations also continue and the first orders of the new paving begin to arrive.

April 2018

A section of the temporary roof was removed to reveal the newly re-leaded roof. The rest will follow soon.

Dolmens have finished all timber repairs on the roof so far and are now off site.

Two levels of scaffolding on the South West Towers came down as stone conservation and repair is completed.

The stonemasons continue conserving and repairing stone on site, and carving up at the masons’ yard.

In the Welcome Centre, concrete foundations have begun being laid in areas cleared by the archaeologists.

The archaeologists are now digging out other areas of the Welcome Centre area such as the basement and staircase.

In landscaping, the team have unexpectedly discovered a large concrete slab under the paving. They are now cutting trenches through the slab for service pipes so the whole thing doesn’t have to be removed.

A second team of archaeologists are providing a watching brief over the landscaping works.

March 2018

Scaffolding on the South West Tower pinnacles has come down, revealing the cleaned, re-pointed and shelter-coated stone.

The stonemason team are back on site cleaning, re-pointing and shelter-coating the North West Tower pinnacles

Lead and timber repairs to the roof continued.

Part of the foundations for the new Community Space have been laid.

Cleaning of the Nave ceiling is almost complete.

February 2018

The scaffolding is remaining steady at the moment, while the team work on the Cathedral Organ Project, a separate Cathedral conservation project.

Lead and timber repairs to the roof continued.

The landscaping works begin

Five new stonemasons have been appointed, bringing the total team up to 30.

Work began on phase one of the landscaping part of The Canterbury Journey. The current paving has served us well, but will be replaced with a York stone to significantly improve access and bring visual coherence to the South Precincts.

Cleaning of the interior Nave ceiling continues.

January 2018

Scaffolding on the north side continued

The lead for section one of the roof is almost complete, while timber repairs are almost complete on section two ready for lead.

The stonemasonry team are hard at work in their workshop carving stone ready for the next season. They also continued carving the new gargoyle heads, and setting out the north towers.

In the welcome centre, archaeologists continue to dig out the area for foundations

Preparations for phase 1 of the landscaping work to begin in February are underway. Read more about the landscaping work here.

December 2017

The Canterbury Journey is one year through this massive project, doesn’t time fly?

Scaffolding continued on the North side of the Nave aisles

Lead continued to go onto section one of the roof, while timber repairs continue on section two – look out in February for a sneak peek at the new roof!

The stonemasonry team have returned to their workshop where they will carve over the winter. They have completed one of the eight new gargoyle heads that will be fixed onto the building in spring.

In the Welcome Centre, archaeologists continue to excavate the ground while Buxton are planning out the schedule for landscaping which will begin in the new year.

November 2017

Lead workers, Full Metal Jacket, with the first panel of new lead to go on the building.

Scaffolding of the West Towers up to the top of the pinnacles was completed. The scaffolding team have now started building up the Nave aisles on the North side.

On the roof, new lead is being put onto the first section of the roof after the timber repairs were completed. The roofers have now moved onto the second section and have started on timber repairs.

The stonemasonry team are continuing to clean, shelter-coat and repoint the pinnacles. While some remain on site to set out the towers, other members of the team have moved back to the Masons’ Yard to begin carving the next ‘season’ of stone over the winter.

In the Welcome Centre compound, the archaeologists continue to excavate the ground. Meanwhile, Buxton Building Contractors have been appointed for the construction of the new Welcome Centre and landscaping elements of The Canterbury Journey.

October 2017

Scaffolding continued up the West Towers

On the roof, the old timber has been replaced and new battens and box gutters are being created.

Stonemasons continued work on the Nave roof level and continued setting out the North West Tower. They also began cleaning, shelter-coating and repointing the pinnacles.

In the Welcome Centre, demolition is complete and archaeologists from Canterbury Archaeological Trust continued to excavate the ground

September 2017

Scaffolding on the Nave roof is complete for now, and they are focusing on the West Towers and covering the pinnacles

On the Nave roof, timbers are beginning to be replaced and the old lead is at the smelting plant and will be recycled into new panels to be replaced onto the building

In the Welcome Centre, demolition is almost complete and archaeologists are excavating the ground

Stonemasons continued work on the Nave roof level and have started setting out on the West Towers. This will identify which stones need work, and what the masons will carve over the winter months

April 2017

The temporary shop store was completed and handed over to Cathedral staff.

Work on the temporary Welcome Centre continued.

Work on the main works compound continued.

Samples of flint walls and landscaping surfaces were built next to the temporary Welcome Centre. They will be used as examples of materials and styles of workmanship and pattern to be used in the landscaping to be constructed as part of the project.

Work began on cleaning the brickwork of the Proctor’s Lodge near the Christ Church Gate.

Work on boreholes for the relief drain continued, including the archaeological investigations.

Panels of the Austin Jr. windows on the Clerestory level started to be removed to enable the Cathedral Studios to carry out repairs and conservation on the windows. They will be reinstated towards the end of the project.
George Austin Jr. was Surveyor of the Fabric 1848-62, and during his time, created a set of windows at the Clerestory level (currently hidden from view by the safety deck). You can find out more about Austin’s work, and a general history of stained glass at the Cathedral here.

Erection of external scaffold on the Cathedral continued.

March 2017

The Safety Deck is complete and the Nave has now returned to its normal use – it’s quite an impressive structure! Watch a timelapse of its construction below.

Construction of the temporary Welcome Centre in the Precincts was begun, along with a temporary shop store behind the Lodge. The current Welcome Centre will be demolished to make way for the new Welcome centre, Viewing Gallery and Community Space – work on this will begin in the summer.

Work on construction of the compound continued.

Stonemasons have almost finished carving the first phase of stone to be replaced in the summer months.

Boreholes were in the process of being dug around the flagpole to finish off the new drainage system.

Designs were begun for the hoardings that surround the compound, with information about the project.

Scaffolding continued to be built around the West Towers and Clerestory.

February 2017

Construction of the new drainage system continued.

Construction of the works compound was begun on the Precinct lawn, including hoardings. The compound will be in situ until the end of the project.

The safety deck in the Nave was near completion.

Scaffolding continued to go up around the West Towers and Clerestory.

January 2017

A new drainage system installed in the South Precincts.

Scaffolding erected on the Clerestory and around the West Towers.

Scaffolding in preparation for the safety deck went up in the Nave. The safety deck will be in place while the roof is repaired, catching any falling debris and enabling internal works to take place.

December 2016

Archaeological works completed in 36/37 Burgate in preparation for the Welcome Centre, Viewing Gallery and Community Space.

Archaeological works completed in the South Precincts ready for the new drainage system to be installed in January.